Experimental Design and Scientific Method

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on experimental design and the scientific method.

Hypothesis

A clear statement articulating a plausible candidate explanation that needs to be testable.

Experimental Design

The plan for a scientific study outlining how to test a hypothesis.

Manipulative Study Design

A study design that involves changing one factor (X) to measure its effect on another factor (Y).

Correlative Study Design

A study design involving the observation of existing relationships without any intervention.

Confounding variables

Factors that may interfere with the results of an experiment by influencing both the dependent and independent variables.

Control group

A group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment and is used for comparison.

Case-control study

Observational study where two groups differing in outcome are identified and compared to find a causal factor.

Longitudinal study

A study that follows the same subjects over a long period of time to observe changes.